Martin Brodeur (back) will not play for the New Jersey Devils on Thursday. (AP Photo)

The New Jersey Devils' Martin Brodeur, though, is no longer day-to-day with a back injury.

“(Brodeur is) feeling better, I wouldn’t classify it as day-to-day,” coach Peter DeBoer said Wednesday. “I mean he’s not going to play Thursday. I don’t mean it’s going to be a month. Sometime in between day-to-day and a month.”

New Jersey is 1-7-1 in its last nine games, and backup Johan Hedberg has allowed 24 goals in his six starts subbing for the 40-year-old Brodeur. New Jersey's offense has been bad, too, averaging less than two goals per game during that stretch, but DeBoer said the team isn't playing differently for Hedberg.

"Not to minimize (Brodeur's) contributions to what we do, but there is no excuse (for the team) this time of year. Everyone is missing good players, great players, key players. You have to persevere," DeBoer said.

The Flames know how that works. They went 6-5-2 using a combo of Leland Irving, Danny Taylor and Joey MacDonald in net. Kiprusoff, at 36, remains an above-average goaltender. If Calgary, for better or worse, manages a playoff push, he'll have to play a big role.